Blog

Denise Corey Coaching Blog: An occasional blog on a wide range of topics including leadership, managing difficult work situations, and gaining new business skills.

Believe in Miracles!

The miracle question is commonly used in solution-focused coaching to help individuals envision a desired future state or outcome. It is a way to shift the focus from the current problem or issue and encourage the individual to imagine how things would be different if the situation were miraculously solved.

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Positive 360

360 Assessments are a widely used professional development tool. Clients identify work colleagues who anonymously scale various job performance traits around leadership and management. Many 360s also include qualitative remarks.

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Now Listen Up!

Reitz and Higgins have researched how we talk, listen, and learn from each other inside the workplace for decades. Power has an enormous impact on who speaks up and who is heard. Unfortunately, people in charge often don't recognize how their power silences others.

I found the observations on Listening Up incredibly informative. Great leaders know that active listening uncovers problems earlier, provides a richer pool of options, allows course correction more quickly, and creates a problem-solving culture. The benefits are enormous, yet most leaders must be attuned to what it takes to make others speak up. They don't create an environment that allows them to Listen up.

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Losing Belonging, Dignity, and Safety- Universal Fears

This is my second post exploring how we react to universal fears. Fears force a false supporting narrative. Don't let your fears hijack you.

The need to belong, be respected, and feel safe is found in cultures worldwide. So we are on alert, looking to secure our place in the group, seeking confirmation we're respected, and protecting ourselves from the erosion of our safety.

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SHHH! Quiet the Chatter

Chatter The Voice In Our Head, Why It Matters, and How To Harness It, by Ethan Kross, offers ways to quiet, unhealthful chatter.

We chatter to ourselves at a rate of four thousand words per minute! Usually, this internal narrative is valuable and allows us to:

  • form memories

  • reflect on decisions

  • control emotions

  • simulate alternative futures

  • keep track of goals

  • define ourselves

  • reminisce

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Harness your Ego-Lean into the Mission

I highly recommend Fred Kofman's newest book, The Meaning Revolution. I found his discussion on the ego's effect on leadership very interesting. I've summarized some of the critical points in this blog.

You can enjoy this appetizer, but please read the book.

To be a great leader, you must love the mission more than you love yourself. A mission-driven leader does find self-work through admiration, praise, and obedience. Instead, a mission-driven leader inspires others to accept a meaningful mission.

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No Way He Has Imposter Syndrome

Neil Patrick Harris shared that he has imposter syndrome on Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert podcast. So a Tony, Emmy, and Screen Actor Guild Award winner faces imposter syndrome!

How can such an accomplished professional still be plagued by fear of failure?


Most of us (including Tony winners) experience Imposter Syndrome whenever we take on new challenges, embrace learning new skills, or seek new responsibilities.

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Tennis Lessons

Carol and I started our tennis match on a hot summer night. My opponent was tall, fit, and an experienced singles player. The first set was over in record time. Changing sides of the court took longer than in some of the games.

Carol would serve, and I would flail, desperately trying to return the ball. She would answer my shot with a sharply angled hit, and I would scramble across the court, waving my racket ineffectually. If I were lucky, Carol's return would be mercifully unreturnable.

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